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Orlando at Detroit (-6 ½, 185 ½)
Jameer Nelson is either courageous or stupid – we’ll find out which it is on Tuesday. Following a tough 90-89 loss that put Orlando down 3-1 in the series, Nelson guaranteed a Game 5 win.
"You know what, we're going to make some adjustments and we're going to win this game," Nelson told reporters after the Game 4 loss. "I'm not trying to be arrogant or cocky or anything like that. We're going to win this game in Detroit."
As if that weren’t enough, the point guard also promised he would make his free throws after going 2-for-6 from the line in the Game 4 loss. As far as the Magic were concerned, it was the second game of the series that could have gone either way.
It’s easy to read too much into post-game guarantees like this, but the Pistons aren’t the kind of team you want to provoke with bulletin board material - especially on their own floor.
Pick: Detroit
San Antonio at New Orleans (-3, 186 ½)
Until one of these teams breaks serve in enemy territory, it probably makes sense to keep riding the home team. But a healthy Tim Duncan makes a big difference.
Duncan played through a nasty flu bug during the first two games of the series and struggled against New Orleans’ double teams. Now he looks fit to take charge when he needs to after dropping 22 points, grabbing 15 boards and swatting four shots in Game 4’s win.
Possibly more importantly – the Spurs defense finally showed up in San Antonio. Chris Paul scored 23 points, but Jannero Pargo was second on the score sheet with only 11 points. That could spell trouble for New Orleans.
Pick: San Antonio
Raji |